Moneyball 2: First Place for a Day

When the Washington Nationals rolled into Citifield on Opening Week, many people thought it was a team on the rise. I figured at least playoff contention for one of the two Wild Card spots that were now available. I told my nephews if they want to root for a team that will be good to them until college go with the Nats. The season went even better than any prognosticator planned...98 wins later and the NL East Crown resting on the caps of the nation's capital. Here are the playoff team listed in order of wins and losses with last post season appearance in parentheses.
98-64 Washington Nationals (NL EAST champs, 1981)- D.C.'s first playoff appearance since 1933. The former Montreal Expos controversially shut down Stephen Strasburg, but we have enough arms to do some post season damage. A quarter century after manager Davey Johnson managed teenage phenom Doc Gooden, he gets a chance for act II with Bryce Harper (22 Hrs/18 SBs). Adam LaRoche paces the offense with 33 Hrs/100 RBI, Ryan Zimmerman (25) and Ian Desmond (25) round out the 20+ homer club. Team MVP- Gio Gonzalez (21-8, 2.89 ERA)
97-65 Cincinnati Reds (NL WEST champs,2010)- Dusty Baker's Red Machine played even better without Joey Votto who missed over 50 games. The acquisition of Mat Latos, the emergence of Johnny Cueto, the no-hitter of Homer Bailey, and the reliability of Bronson Arroyo prove this will be a team to contend with especially with the Nasty Boys 2.0 at the end of the game. Team MVP- Aroldis Chapman (38 SVs, 15.3 K/9)
95-67 New York Yankees (AL EAST champs, 2011)-Only two regulars under 30, Cano and Russell Martin, and they are both 29. Here's hoping this team finally gets old. Yankee haters across the nation hope No Mo in the playoffs finally catches up to them. Team MVP-Derek Jeter (38 years old, 216 hits)
94-68 San Francisco Giants (NL WEST champs, 2010)- Melky Cabrera (.346) led the league in hitting until he didn't. Buster Posey (.336, 24 HRs, 103 RBI) will surely pick up Comeback Player of the Year and most likely win NL MVP. The Melk Man delivered the home field advantage to the NL, but Tim Lincecum will have to get off the roller coaster in order to return the team to the playoffs. Matt Cain (perfect game) is clearly the ace of the Giants staff. Team MVP- Posey
94-68 Oakland Athletics (AL WEST champs, 2006)- GM Billy Beane who looked like he was decimating roster in order to move team to San Jose was just hoarding arms. Rookie starters accounted for 50 wins. The A's who trailed the Rangers by 13 games on June 30th, swept Texas on the final weekend to land themselves in first place on the only day that mattered. Red Sox castoff Josh Reddick added a nice boost to offense. Team MVP- Yoenis Cespedes (.292, 23 HRs, 82 RBI)
94-68 Atlanta Braves (NL Wild Card, 2010)- You just knew that Kris Medlen's streak of 20+ starts with Braves winning was coming to an end in the playoffs. Chipper Jones exited in a classy fashin by refusing to make the last out. The switch-hitting great batted .287 as the Braves completed last seasons unfinished business by making it back to the playoffs. It's too bad Chipper didn't have closer Craig Kimbrel as a teammate on those 90s Braves otherwise he'd retire with more than one ring. Team MVP- Kimbrel (42 saves, 16.7 K/9)
93-69 Texas Rangers (AL Wild Card, 2011) What will fans remember most about Josh Hamilton's 2012 season? His four home run game or his misplayed fly ball that most likely cost the Rangers the AL West. Adrian Beltre (36 HRs, 102 RBI) had another monster season away from Fenway, and Michael Young reached career hit 2230. Yu Darvish went 15-9, but Neftali Feliz only started seven games. Team MVP- Josh Hamilton (43 HRs, 128 RBI, .930 OPS)
93-69 Baltimore Orioles (AL Wild Card, 1997)- Buck Showalter knows rebuilding. A team that people continue to discount despite improbable extra innings win streak (16.) No regular batted over .300 and no batter reached 100 RBI. However, Chris Davis (33) and Adam Jones (32) powered the team to 214 homers. Matt Wieters led a team that used 12 starting pitchers. The true stars of the team...the bullpen. Team MVP- Jim Johnson (51 saves)
88-74 Detroit Tigers (AL Central, 2011)- Prince Fielder knows MVPs. He batted behind Ryan Braun last year and Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera this year. Cabrera earned the first Triple Crown since Yaz in '67 by producing a .season for the ages (330, 44 HRs, 139 RBI.)   Last seasons MVP/ CY Young winner Justin Verlander went 17-8 with 6 CGs and 239 strikeouts. This team has two stud hitters, an ace, and a reliable closer. Now that they are past the scrappy White Sox they could do some serious damage in the playoffs. Team MVP- Cabrera
88-74 St. Louis Cardinals (NL Wild Card, 2011) No Pujols, no problem. No Larussa either. Maybe those guys are overrated?! Mike Matheny guides the team to the playoffs and reaches the NLDS with help of the infield fly rule. Team MVP Kyle Lohse (16-3, 2.86 ERA)